Page 7 of A Court Bright and Broken

I could have continued to sway her, putting some actual effort into it this time.

But I didn’t. I’d frightened her enough already, and that was the exact opposite of my intention.

I wasn’t even sure why I’d gone to such lengths to keep talking to her since accomplishing my original goal—to get her out of harm’s way.

With a dip of my head, I said, “I’m sorry. Your father is a wise man, and you should listen to his advice.”

Clearly surprised by my sudden change in attitude, she gave me a wary glance.

“Thank you.”

There was a moment of awkward silence as we stood facing each other. Then she slowly turned and began walking away.

I let her get a comfortable distance before following.

She may not have wanted my protection, but she would be receiving it anyway, if only from afar.

My mission when I’d come here this morning was simply to soak up the atmosphere of the lively market, absorb its feeling of freedom, and record some of its sights to enjoy later when back under the constraints of my day-to-day life.

Now, for whatever reason, it was to ensure that this human woman concluded her mysterious “business” and made it back to her village safely.

It would have been so much easier if she were Fae. I could have ordered her to leave, and she’d have had no choice but obey.

Or I could have encouraged her to use her natural glamour to protect herself—that was, if the glamour she possessed was useful in any way for self-defense. Not all of them were.

Alas, she was merely human and therefore without magic.

So as not to unnerve her again, I maintained a distance. When I saw the band of thieves was still roving the aisles, I tensed, ready to spring into action and intervene once more.

I could get to herveryquickly, if need be.

But the men simply walked past the young woman, albeit a little close for my liking, then turned the corner onto the next row. I breathed a sigh of relief but kept up my vigil.

She moved from booth to booth, inquiring of the various proprietors.

I wondered again what she was looking for. She seemed to be focused on the stalls that sold jewelry and statuettes and other decorative trinkets.

Maybe shewasa noble woman in disguise after all, here to seek a bargain. The poor people I’d seen never seemed to concern themselves with artistic curiosities.

As I passed my original observation point, I bent and swept my hand down to pick up my pencils and drawing paper. All of it was, surprisingly, accounted for.

Then I resumed my slow, watchful pursuit of the woman. Surely she would tire soon and head back to the safety of her village?

Hopefully she’d remember her near-miss from today and never return here. Or if she did, maybe next time she’d bring along that father she’d mentioned.

Why had he allowed his naive daughter to come here unescorted in the first place?

Heat flashed up my neck and seared my cheeks. There was that baffling flare of protective anger again. I was like a stranger to myself today.

As innocent as the human woman seemed to be to the dangers of the world, it troubled me to think of her frequenting places like this one. If therewasa next time, chances were I wouldn’t be around.

Soon, my time would be much more closely accounted for.

The woman glanced my way, and I turned abruptly, pretending to be interested in acquiring a lunch of fried fishfrom the stall immediately to my left. After a few moments, I turned back in her direction.

She had stopped at the booth of yet another trinket peddler, and the two of them were animatedly discussing something. The day had warmed, and she’d left her hood off. Her thick, dark hair shone in the sunlight like water glistening in a creek bed.

I had a brief, visceral image of running my hands through it, and something stirred in my abdomen.

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